Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time (II)

Elijah said to Ahab,
“Get up, eat and drink;
for there is the sound
of abundance of rain.”
So Ahab went up
to eat and to drink.

Elijah went up to the top of Carmel;
and he bowed himself
down on the earth,
and put his face between his knees.
He said to his servant,
“Go up now, look toward the sea.”
He went up, and looked, and said,
“There is nothing.”
He said, “Go again” seven times.

On the seventh time, he said,
“Behold, a small cloud, like a man’s hand,
is rising out of the sea.”
He said, “Go up, tell Ahab,
‘Get ready and go down,
so that the rain does not stop you.’”
In a little while, the sky grew black
with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.

Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
The hand of the Lord was on Elijah;
and he tucked his cloak into his belt
and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Responsorial – Psalm 65.10, 11, 12-13 Resp. 2a

R. Praise waits for you, God, in Zion.

You visit the earth, and water it.
You greatly enrich it.
The river of God is full of water.
You provide them grain.

R. Praise waits for you, God, in Zion.

So you have planned it.
You drench its furrows. You level its ridges.
You soften it with showers.
You bless it with a crop.

R. Praise waits for you, God, in Zion.

You crown the year with your bounty.
Your carts overflow with abundance.
The wilderness grasslands overflow.
The hills are clothed with gladness.

R. Praise waits for you, God, in Zion.

Gospel – Matthew 5.20-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
For I tell you that
unless your righteousness
exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees,
there is no way
you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
“You have heard
that it was said to the ancient ones,
‘You shall not murder;’ and
‘Whoever shall murder
shall be in danger of the judgment.’
But I tell you that
everyone who is angry with his brother
shall be in danger of the judgment;
and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raqa!’
shall be in danger of the Sanhedren;
and whoever shall say, ‘You fool!’
shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.

“If therefore
you are offering your gift at the altar,
and there remember that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there before the altar,
and go your way.
First be reconciled to your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Agree with your adversary quickly,
while you are with him on the way;
lest the prosecutor deliver you to the judge,
and the judge deliver you to the guard,
and you be cast into prison.
Most certainly I tell you,
you shall by no means get out of there,
until you have paid the last penny.